GPCC Service Offerings

Getting to Know the Client
We start the process by getting to know the student and the family. We meet with the student and her/his parents to discuss the student's academic profile, needs, and dreams. We will:

• Administer a career inventory
• Interpret and review the inventory with the student and his/her parents so they understand how interests, learning styles and talents match college programs and career goals. The family will receive a written report.
• Suggest college majors, fields of study and potential careers that reflect the findings on the career inventory
• Collect information about the student's academic, extracurricular and athletic achievements through the analysis of the transcript, test scores and questionnaires completed by the student and parents
• Offer advice on high school academic programming, summer experiences and admissions testing

The College Search
As we get to know the student, we begin to develop a list of colleges that we believe will suit the student in terms of academic, social, financial, career and geographical criteria. We base this list upon our first-hand knowledge of hundreds of schools in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. We will:

• Help the student learn about the schools on the list so that he/she is able to narrow the list down to the schools to which he/she will apply
• Assist the family in planning college visits
• Help the student develop successful interviewing techniques
• Advise students interested in special topics such as athletic recruiting, artistic portfolios or music auditions

The Application Process
Once the student has selected the schools to which he/she will apply, we will:

• Review all applications for accuracy and completeness
• Assist the student in developing a resume
• Guide the student in the essay-writing process with editing help as needed
• Analyze the college responses and help the family make the final decision

Financial Planning
Because college is such a huge investment, we will help the family:

• Determine which financial aid forms are needed and offer help in how to complete them and when to submit them
• Locate professional long-term financial planning services if needed
• Determine which institutions may give the most aid to the student

Advice for Seniors

It's your senior year! Be sure to:

• Check that graduation requirements are being met
• Take ACT/SAT tests as needed
• Update your resume
• Attend your school's fall College Night
• Continue to speak to college reps visiting your school
• Complete your college visits
• Investigate financial aid and apply for scholarships
• Finalize your college choices with your counselor
• Complete college applications and send test scores to colleges
• Give recommendation sheets to your counselor and teachers in a timely fashion
• Submit the FAFSA in January
• Send first-semester grades to the colleges that request them
• Attend Financial Aid Night at your school with your parents
• Write thank-you notes to the teachers who wrote your recommendations
• Make your final college choice
• Inform schools you will not be attending
• Send your final transcript to the college you will attend

Junior Year is So Important!

• Talk to college representatives visiting your school
• Attend College Night
• Take the PSAT in October
• Register to take SAT/ACT tests in the spring
• Remind parents to attend the college information session presented by the counselors
• Further research careers that interest you
• Use the computer to identify colleges that appear to be a good fit for you
• Begin to tour college campuses
• Start to search for scholarships
• Talk to your counselor about your high school record and interests in terms of finding a good college fit
• Take MEAP and AP tests if appropriate
• Begin to prepare your resume
• In the summer, obtain applications and begin to prepare them

Sophomore Year Is for Learning about Yourself and Careers

• Keep your options open by taking a broad and challenging academic program
• Take the PSAT in October if appropriate
• Take the ACT PLAN if offered
• Attend College Night
• Explore your career interests with your counselor
• Continue to be involved in extra-curricular and volunteer activities
• Talk to your parents about college plans
• Research colleges in which you are interested
• Plan your final two academic years with your counselor being certain that you are fully meeting graduation requirements and properly preparing for college

Freshman Year Is a Year of Transition

• Begin to build a good foundation
• Settle into the routine of high school
• Take a strong academic program, but do not go to extremes
• Become involved in extra-curricular and volunteer projects
• Talk to your counselor about your academic progress and your plans for the future
• When on family trips, visit colleges
• Ask older students advice on planning for the future

Grosse Pointe College Consulting, 1020 Bishop Rd, Grosse Pointe MI 48230 | 313.882.2526 | GPCC @ comcast.net